http://www.cactusmoonmesa.com/ There's no shortage of places to catch a game in the East Valley, but forget about finding a seat if you don't stake out a spot well before kickoff. That's when we head to Cactus Moon. Because whether we show up in the first half or the bottom of the ninth, there's always room for us and our beer. We'll admit we were skeptical of a sports bar in the Mesa Riverview shopping complex, but there's nothing corporate about this family-run operation. Even after the final whistle blows, we stick around for when they clear the floor for late-night fun. Our favorite is Thursday's country-Western theme. Read more about Cactus Moon Sports Grill >>

http://www.deserteaglebrewing.com Don't be surprised if you haven't heard of Desert Eagle just yet. After all, the Mesa brewery just opened less than a year ago in October 2012. However, since then, the young brewery has made a name for itself with inventive drafts in every style you can think up. We love the fruitier options that Desert Eagle offers, such as Pomegranate Wheat and Black Cherry Blonde. The taphouse might not look like much now, but we're sure that, with time, its subtle Southwesten décor will evolve into a cozy spot to have a drink. Read more about Desert Eagle Brewing Company >>

There's no clearer illustration of how this Mesa mainstay toes the line between family-friendly establishment and dive bar than its claw machine, which is filled with stuffed animals and, ahem, adult novelties. Beyond this incongruous mix of innocence and outrageousness, Groggy's offers numerous pool tables and a relaxed environment, no matter how intense the billiards action becomes. All three flags of North America (Canada, the United States, and Mexico) hang on the wall of the bar, seemingly underscoring the unity shared by its patrons in their common pursuit of a good time. Both neighborhood folk and students from the nearby Mesa Community College visit in search of $2.50 happy hour specials on Budweiser beers, or perhaps for a few games of nine ball. Groggy's also features a vintage outdoor sign (depicting a wild-eyed frog gripping a pool cue and frosty mug), which proudly proclaims the establishment's M.O. of "good food, good fun, good spirits." Read more about Groggy's >>

A dive bar institution for generations (take note of the vintage neon sign) Hambone is a place for booze pigs from all walks of life to gather for cocktails and conversation. It's visited by day drinkers eager to get an early start courtesy of the bar's 6 a.m. happy hour, as well as the working class crowd looking to unwind after a hard day's labor. The stained cement floor contains a record of decades of spilled drinks and the graffiti in the bathrooms is always entertaining to read. Folks here spend as much time smoking by the front door as they do drinking and playing pool on any of the six available tables. The soundtrack coming from the Internet jukebox is almost always of the classic rock and country variety, so you might get a few raised eyebrows from patrons if you wanna hear Lady Gaga or Kanye. Read more about Hambone Sports Bar and Grill >>

Jupe’s first opened way back in the early 1980s, and certainly looks every bit its age. That’s not a slight by any means, however. We wouldn’t change a thing about this out-of-the-way scruffy haunt cloistered at the edge of Mesa -- from the crumbling stucco and mismatched office furniture in the smoking area outside to the patchwork wood paneling and period-specific beer signs inside -- nor would its die-hard devotees and neighborhood regulars. They’re welcoming to a fault, much like the members of the same family that have slung suds in ice-cold mugs for three decades, to those who can find this word-of-mouth spot, though they’ll sass you for rooting against their beloved Minnesota Vikings or trying to pay for a one-buck Jell-O shot and Natty Light chaser with plastic, since Jupe’s has been cash only and big on Purple Pride since day one. Read more about Jupe's >>

http://www.realfunbar.com Cloistered amidst endless orange groves on the eastern end of Mesa, The Monastery isn't so much a bar as it's a ranch-style compound containing amusements aplenty. Perfect for those who can't stand the idea of being parked on a bar stool within a darkened room, this sprawling establishment offers drinking and diversions both inside and outside. Sand volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, and ping-pong tables dominate its sprawling "backyard," while the interior includes pool tables, dart machines, and arcade games. Charcoal grills are also on the premises, allowing patrons to purchase a hunk of meat (or a veggie burger) and cook it for themselves. Live music takes place on Fridays and Saturdays when the weather permits and there's karaoke on Tuesday nights. And don't forget to ask the bartenders about a free cab ride home if your designated driver has had one too many. Read more about The Monastery >>

http://www.okelleysbar.com A touch of the Irish in south Mesa, O'Kelley's is a dark-wooden pub that boasts 50-plus televisions, a regular gaggle of bar patrons, a pool table, darts, golf arcade, and full menu. It also hosts local rock bands Fridays and Saturdays and karaoke Mondays and Thursdays. Craft beer and poker are the way to go for Wednesday night though. Read more about O'Kelley's Sports Bar & Grill >>

If you're hunting for this divers unmarked location within the decidedly button-down south Mesa plaza that houses it, steer clear of the law firms, real estate companies, and other white-collar business and instead look for the Christmas lights on the roof of the Pub 'n' Grub that seemingly operate 24/7/365. And yes, the bar is most definitely open for business, despite its perpetually closed window blinds. The non-stop sounds of revelry generated by its rogue's gallery of regulars manages to leak out, however, from the cheers of the victorious players cleaning up on the two pool tables and the thrum of classic rock hits on the juke, to noisy debates between patrons at the cigarette burn-scarred blonde wood bar about whether KISS or Ozzy got more trim in the ’70s. Such discussions often occur over Pub 'n' Grub's American bar food standards, most involving chicken, and imbibing any of its 14 different drafts. The overall vibe isn't so far from 1984, the year the joint opened. Read more about Pub 'N' Grub >>

http://www.rtosullivans.com R.T. O'Sullivan's has the scariest bathroom in town, and it's perfectly clean. Spoiler alert: When ladies are washing their hands, a giant leprechaun sometimes lights up behind the mirror. It is a gag that leaves many people screaming, and it's all part of the fun at this friendly Irish pub and restaurant. Regulars come for the weekday happy hours offering $1 off wine, wells and beer, along with half-priced appetizers from 3 to 6 p.m. R.T.O. also offers trivia games, poker tournaments, and more than 80 televisions to watch a game. Chow down on two-for-one burgers on Tuesdays, when there is also competitive pub trivia, or go native with corned beef and fish sandwiches. The place also features karaoke every Thursday and screens pay-per-views from the UFC and WWE every month. Read more about R.T. O'Sullivan's Sports Bar & Grill >>

http://www.rwbaz.com Deep in the heart of Chandler, this is a true restaurant designed from the ground up to offer the East Valley community a place to eat, drink and relax. The Brew prides itself on providing an exceptional dining experience, and a dinner menu featuring bold entrées that are satisfying and bursting with flavor. An extensive selection of bottled and draft micro-brews and an ever-changing selection of affordable boutique wines make every meal an experience. But don't take our word for it-head to Red White and Brew and start saluting. Read more about Red White & Brew >>

http://www.spiritsloungebar.com Roll down the dusty Apache Trail to Mesa, and approaching the city limits you’ll happen upon this sprawling roadhouse and southern-fried venue infused with an aura of rock ‘n’ roll debauchery. Wall-sized posters of such notorious party animals as Tommy Lee and the Beastie Boys seemingly inspire the rowdy times regularly served here up with smile (and a typically stiff drink from any of its three bars). Blaring nu-metal anthems inspire amateur gyrations on a stripper pole, a whoa-babe vibe amplified by the weekly wet tee shirt contests on Fridays and Saturdays. Activities of a risqué nature have also happened during the occasional pudding wrestling bouts between bikini-clad ladies taking place in an inflatable kiddie pool or in the secluded Bleu Room, earning its name from its stylish azure furnishings. The ginormous patio is also the site of much commotion, as patrons gather outside to smoke, compare scars, and simply dig into some of Spirits Bar & Grill’s classic American grub, which always imbued with just the right amount of grease. Read more about Spirits Bar & Grill >>